DENTISTRY & FACIAL AESTHETICS BESPOKE | CALM | CARING WETHERBY | YORKSHIRE
TemproMandibular Joint Dysfunction and TREATMENTS
What is TMD?
Basic TMD advice
Basic TMD advice
The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw (or mandible) to the skull and its function is necessary in order for you to properly chew, speak, yawn etc.
TMD, is a disorder that causes pain in the jaw that can range from mild to severe. The causes of TMD have not been pinpointed, but can include stress (also linking to bruxism/tooth grinding and clenching), trauma and other musculoskeletal disorders.
When the temporomandibular joint is unduly stressed or injured, the face can become tender to the touch, and many sufferers report frequent headaches. Since the temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull, the pain is capable of radiating to other parts of the body, including the temples and neck. Other symptoms include trouble opening or closing the mouth, lock jaw or a misaligned bite. Another, more common symptom that coincides with the pain is a clicking or popping sound that occurs whenever the jaw opens or closes.
The onset of bruxism (teeth-grinding) and jaw clenching can be habitual, often linked to stress/anxiety, and occurs mostly during sleep. The constant pressure on the joint and associated muscles can cause continual pain and lead to many of the symptoms associated with TMD.
Botox for TMD
Botox® (Botlincum Toxin A) is used as an advanced supplemental treatment for TMD and associated jaw tension/pain. When injected specifically into certain facial muscles, Botox® can relieve TMJ and jaw tension for many patients.
The injections often eliminate headaches resulting from teeth grinding, and, in cases of severe stress, Botox® can minimise the risk of lock jaw.
Evidence is growing indicating that it can be extremely effective in helping patients in acute episodes and medium to along term alongside splint therapy (see below)
Amy is referred patients from across the North of England to treat TMD using multiple treatment modes including splint therapy and muscle relaxing injections.
PRICE : £350
Basic TMD advice
Basic TMD advice
Basic TMD advice
There are treatments in surgery we can offer to help with very tender jaw muscles, only after face-to-face consultations, alongside the following basic advice to significantly improve your symptoms of TMD:
- Soft Diet- soft or blended foods allow the jaw to rest temporarily. Remember to avoid hard, crunchy, and chewy foods. Do not stretch your mouth to accommodate such foods as apples, or whole fruit
- Avoid overuse of jaw muscles- eat soft food and cut food into small pieces. Steer clear of sticky or chewy food. Avoid chewing gum, nail biting, chewing pen tops.
- Stretching and massage- we can show you how to do exercises that stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles and how to massage the muscles yourself.
- Moist Heat- moist heat from a heat pack or a hot water bottle wrapped in a warm, moist towel can improve function and reduce pain. Be careful to avoid burning yourself when using heat.
- Ice- ice packs can decrease inflammation and also numb pain and promote healing. Do not place an ice pack directly on your skin. Keep the pack wrapped in a clean cloth while you are using it. Do not use an ice pack for more than 10 - 15 minutes.
- Pain relief- use simple over-the-counter pain medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, may provide temporary relief from jaw discomfort.
- Jaw Exercises- slow, gentle jaw exercises may help increase jaw mobility and healing. We can provide you with good resources for TMJ exercises and include: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317871.php
- Relaxation Techniques- relaxation and guided imagery can be helpful in dealing with the pain that accompanies TMJ dysfunction. Deep, slow breathing enhances relaxation and modulates pain sensations. Some have found yoga, massage, and meditation helpful in reducing stress and aiding relaxation.
- Side Sleeping- sleep on your side using pillow support between shoulder and neck.
- Relax Facial Muscles- make a concerted effort to relax your lips, and keep teeth apart
- Yawning- use your fist to support your chin as you yawn to prevent damage to the joint and prevent your jaw from locking open.
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
A common issue that affects up to 80% of the population, the grinding of teeth and clenching of the jaw can cause tooth wear, breakages, pain, limited movement of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint disorder), migraines and headaches. Most common in adults over 25 years old, the cause is not fully understood, though symptoms often worsen during stressful periods
Effects of bruxism
- Headaches and migraines
- Facial myalgia (aching jaw & facial muscles - often diagnosed as Atypical Facial Pain)
- Earache, tinnitus and sinus pains
- Stiff neck and shoulders
- Limited mouth opening
- Poor sleep quality
- Sleep disturbance of bed partner due to noise
- Tooth mobility and tooth wear
- Fractured tooth cusps and broken fillings
- Receding and inflamed gums
- Tongue scalloping
There are treatments in surgery we can offer to help with very tender jaw muscles, only after face-to-face consultations, alongside the following basic advice:
Splint therapy for bruxism
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
We can make different types of splint (a type of mouthguard designed specifically for you) to help manage jaw joint problems.
These conservative, reversible treatments described are useful for temporary relief of pain – they are not cures for TMJ disorders. If symptoms continue over time, come back often, or worsen, tell your doctor or dentist.
SCI Appliances by S4S
These appliances are quite small and worn over the upper front teeth. They are described as an enhanced deprogrammer, designed to stop the canin teeth from occluding and thus reduce the intensity of clenching. They are worn by the patient at night. Some clinicians worry they may cause excessive loading of the jaw joints.
Stabilisation Splints
These are plastic guards that fit over the upper or lower teeth. Stabilization splints are the most widely used treatments for TMJ disorders.
They are sometimes called full-coverage appliances, Tanner appliances, Michigan splints or centric relation splints.
If a stabilization splint is recommended, it should be regularly checked and should not cause permanent changes in the bite or cause worse discomfort.
Anterior Repositioning Appliances
These type of appliances are designed to bring components of the jaw forward (and down) and in doing so, allow the disc to come back into it’s correct relationship. This is known as ‘recapturing the disc’.
Treatment with these type of appliances may take several months and the concept is to keep the disc in place for long enough so that the disc arrangement ‘heals’ and the disc becomes properly functional again. Increasingly, the evidence is that any change is temporary and the disc dislocates again with time. These would usually not be a first-line of management.